Joburg cop trapped in undercover operation for bribery

By Jonisayi Maromo On Apr 6, 2021

The police captain set up an unauthorised roadblock and was arrested after accepting the R100 bribe he had demanded from an undercover agent.

Two SAPS vans at a crime scene. — A Johannesburg police officer was arrested after taking a bribe at an unauthorised roadblock. File picture

PRETORIA, April 6 (ANA) – The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) on Tuesday said a police officer was appearing in court after he set up an unauthorised roadblock in Johannesburg and demanded R100 from an undercover law-enforcement agent.

“The joint sting operation of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, the SAPS Anti-Corruption (Unit) and National Traffic Anti-Corruption (Unit) arrested a 56-year-old captain from the SAPS Johannesburg Public Order Policing for corruption at Observatory yesterday (Monday),” said Ipid national spokesperson Ndileka Cola.

“The captain, who was the shift commander, conducted an unauthorised roadblock with his members at Observatory Street and Steyn Street. He stopped an undercover vehicle, demanded a driving licence which the agent didn’t produce. The captain demanded a bribe of R100 and entrapment cash was handed over to him.”

The police captain was arrested after accepting the R100. Cola said he was detained at Yeoville police station and was on Tuesday set to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

She said the police watchdog was still probing the matter.

In another Easter sting operation conducted by the Gauteng SAPS Anti-Corruption Unit, the Ipid and the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit (NTACU) on Friday, a 45-year-old traffic officer from Randfontein Public Safety was also arrested for corruption.

“The officer was operating a speed camera where he stopped an undercover vehicle. He solicited a R200 bribe and was arrested on the spot for corruption and he has been detained at Randfontein police station,” said Cola.

“The Randfontein anti-corruption unit will handle this case as the arrested law-enforcement officer is neither SAPS nor MPS (municipal police services), thus it falls outside the mandate of Ipid.”

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher